Looking for a fun and festive DIY project? This black cat soft toy is a perfect craft for Halloween, autumn decor, or a cozy handmade gift for any cat lover! Follow this simple, step-by-step guide to bring your soft kitty to life. At the end of this post, you’ll find a link to download the pattern for free.
Materials You’ll Need:
- Pattern (download link at the end of the post)
- Fabric (fleece, cotton, minky or any soft fabric in black or your preferred color)
- Sewing thread (matching the color of your fabric)
- Polyester stuffing (like holofiber) for filling
- Buttons (for the eyes and for attaching arms and tail)
- Needle and sewing machine
- Embroidery thread (for nose and mouth)
- Scissors, pins, and a printer
Pattern Overview
The pattern consists of the following pieces:
- Body: 2 parts (each with a tuck at the bottom)
- Arms: 4 parts
- Legs: 4 parts
- Bottom of the body: 1 part
- Head: 2 back parts, 1 front (face) part
- Ears: 4 parts
- Tail: 2 parts
Sewing Instructions
1. Print and Cut the Pattern
- Print the cat pattern at a scale of 100% for a finished height of approximately 60 cm.
- To make a smaller toy, reduce the scale percentage before printing.
- Carefully cut out each pattern piece. For symmetrical pieces, remember to cut a mirror image for the correct number of parts.
2. Cut Out Fabric Pieces
- Place each pattern piece on the back of the fabric.
- Cut out the appropriate number of fabric pieces, ensuring you mirror any pieces that require it (like the arms, legs, and ears).
- Remember that the pattern is provided without seam allowances! Therefore, when cutting the parts, it is also necessary to add seam allowances of approximately 0.7 cm – 1 cm.
3. Sew the Legs and Arms
- Arms, tail: Place two pieces right sides together. Sew around the edges, leaving 4-5 cm open.
- Legs: Place two leg pieces right sides together. Sew around the edges, leaving the top open.
- Turn each piece right side out and fill with holofiber until plump but still flexible.
- Sew the holes on the arms and on the tail by hand with a needle and thread with a hidden seam.
4. Assemble the Body
- Leg Placement: Take the body front and sew each leg to the bottom front.
- Bottom Piece: Attach the bottom of the body to the body’s lower edge, aligning with the legs.
- Side Seams: Place the front and back body pieces together, right sides facing, and sew along the side seams and bottom edge, turning and twisting as needed to maintain alignment.
- Turn the body right side out and fill with holofiber until it feels plush and firm.
5. Assemble the Head
- Back of Head: Sew the two back head pieces together along the center seam.
- Ears: Sew two ear pieces together (right sides facing) for one ear, leaving the bottom open. Repeat for the other ear.
- Attach Ears to Face: Pin the ears to the top of the front face piece and sew them in place.
- Complete the Head: Align the back head piece with the front (face) piece, right sides together. Sew around the edges, leaving the bottom open.
- Turn the head right side out and fill with holofiber.
6. Attach the Head to the Body
- Hand-sew the head to the top of the body with a strong needle and matching thread. Use small stitches to securely attach it, ensuring the head is straight and centered.
7. Attach Arms and Tail with Buttons
- Arms: Position each arm on the sides of the body where the shoulders would be. Use buttons to attach the arms, which allows for movement and gives a cute touch.
- Tail: Attach the tail to the back of the body using a button, so it can hang naturally.
8. Add the Face Details
- Eyes: Sew on buttons for the cat’s eyes, ensuring they are evenly spaced.
- Nose and Mouth: Use embroidery thread to stitch a small triangle nose and add two lines for the mouth below it. This gives the cat a friendly, soft expression.
Finishing Touches
Now that you’ve completed the sewing, double-check all seams to ensure they’re secure. Give your cat a final “fluff” to adjust the stuffing as needed.
Clothes
To sew the skirt, you need to cut out 2 rectangles of 45 by 15 cm (18 by 6 inches) from a bright fabric, sew on the sides, fold the bottom of the skirt and adjust it, and the top as well, but leaving room for an elastic band. Insert the elastic into the top of the skirt. The skirt on the photo is made of the fabric from Fall/Autumn vibes Spoonflower fabric collection (clickable link).
The sweater is knitted with two pairs of knitting needles on a cable from one skein of sectional dyed wool using a seamless method starting from the collar from top to bottom (Zimmerman method).
[Download the Free Cat Pattern Here]
With this pattern and tutorial, you’ll have your very own handmade black cat soft toy ready for snuggles or display. Enjoy making this project, and don’t hesitate to share photos of your finished cat! I’d appreciate if you mention this website greetingcardsart.com or @animalista_art in Instagram!
If you like cats – please, check this CATS Spoonflower fabric collection (clickable link) – you may find some interesting and unic cat themed fabrics for sewing!)
